WATCH: Neutral Milk Hotel’s Mangum Plays Rare Gig

Singer/songwriter performs tracks from In the Airplane Over the Sea at a NYC benefit concert.

Jeff Mangum, the singer/songwriter behind Athens, GA, folk outfit Neutral Milk Hotel, played his first show in years Thursday night at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge.

Below, watch video of Mangum strumming tracks from his band’s adored 1998 release, In the Aeroplane over the Sea, including “Two-Headed Boy” and “Oh, Comely.”

Mangum’s rare live performance was part of a benefit show for New Zealand musician Chris Knox (Tall Dwarfs, the Enemy, Toy Love, Flying Nun Records), who had a stroke last year. 400 or so fans snatched up $75 tickets for the show, which also featured performances from TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone, Yo La Tango, and more.

Fans captured indie rock’s J.D. Salinger playing his five-song solo set. Watch video below, then tell us what you think in the comment section.